Method of making stabilized tobacco product

Abstract

The method includes adding at least one first chelator to smokeless tobacco in an amount effective to reduce an amount of free calcium in the smokeless tobacco by 20% or more and reduce an amount of free iron in the smokeless tobacco by 60% or more.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of making a stabilized tobacco product, comprising:
 adding at least one first chelator to smokeless tobacco in an amount effective to reduce an amount of free calcium in the smokeless tobacco by 20% or more and reduce an amount of free iron in the smokeless tobacco by 60% or more.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first chelator includes deferoxamine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one first chelator includes EDTA, EGTA, sodium tripolyphosphate, deferoxamine, and chlorogenic acid. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adding adds the at least one first chelator in an amount effective to suppress reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation caused by free iron and free calcium in the smokeless tobacco. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the adding adds the at least one first chelator in an amount effective to
 reduce redox activity of free iron in the smokeless tobacco, and   reduce calcium-induced activity of degradative enzymes in the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adding at least one first antioxidant to the smokeless tobacco, the at least one first antioxidant being different than the at least one first chelator.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein
 the at least one first antioxidant includes L-ascorbic acid, or a chemical analog, or both the L-ascorbic acid and the chemical analog, the chemical analog being a water-soluble analog of vitamin E, and   the at least one first chelator includes deferoxamine.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the chemical analog is 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein
 the at least one first chelator includes EDTA, EGTA, sodium tripolyphosphate, deferoxamine, and chlorogenic acid, and   the at least one first antioxidant includes tocopherols, tocotrienols, beta-carotene, alpha tocopheryl succinate, alpha tocopheryl acetate, tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate, ascorbyl palmitate, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and ubiquinol.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first antioxidant includes tocopherols, tocotrienols, beta-carotene, alpha tocopheryl succinate, alpha tocopheryl acetate, tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate, ascorbyl palmitate, BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and ubiquinol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one first antioxidant includes at least one of a lipid-soluble antioxidant and a water-soluble antioxidant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 adding at least one first flavorant to the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the adding at least one first flavorant occurs after the adding at least one first chelator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the adding at least one first flavorant occurs after the adding at least one first chelator and the adding at least one first antioxidant. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 forming an alcohol solution, the alcohol solution including the at least one first flavorant and the at least one first antioxidant, the at least one first antioxidant being at least one lipid-soluble antioxidant, and   adding the alcohol solution to the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 adding at least one first flavorant to the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the adding at least one first flavorant occurs after the adding at least one first chelator. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 fermenting the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the adding at least one first chelator occurs after the fermenting. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 adding at least one first antioxidant to the smokeless tobacco, the at least one first antioxidant being different than the at least one first chelator.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the adding of the at least one first chelator occurs after the fermenting. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the adding at least one first chelator and the adding at least first antioxidant occurs after the fermenting. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 adding at least one first flavorant to the smokeless tobacco.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein
 the adding at least one first chelator occurs after the fermenting, and   the adding at least one first flavorant occurs after the adding at least one first chelator.